Good news, Mr. Gobeil; talk radio is alive and well in Lil’ Rhody… you just won’t find it in the tired corners of studios of the usual suspects. And it has taken on a whole new form.

Some perspective, please

When I arrived in Rhode Island more than 20 years ago, Rhode Island Radio was the place of legends. Mary Ann Sorrentino’s ascorbic wit routinely skewered political egos. The grace and humanity of Arlene Violet gave voice to countless noble causes, ignored by the rich and powerful. Steve Kass was there to analyze, provide perspective on the halls of government. Buddy Cianci wove in and out of the media, irrevocably blurring the line between government and talk radio

But, as they say, time marches on. The economics of information has changed. I will agree that shortsighted far-flung media executives have lost touch with the spirit of the local market. The consolidation of the companies that own media properties has accelerated this process

We evolve. We grow. But one aspect of Talk Radio has never changed. It is truly Rhode Island’s Town Hall. Where else could a “ham and egger” like myself be able to question--no, interrogate--the powerful? During my tenure as a serial talk show caller, I have been able to tangle with Senators, Governors, moguls, and the elite.

Talk Radio remains the only avenue for the citizenry to connect with an increasingly remote Government. A Government made more insular with the assistance of a complicit national and local media, who have been willing to trade access and political favors for silence. Witness the revolving door between established media players and Rhode Island State and Municipal Government as long time “journalists” have become highly compensated mouthpieces for the very people they used to cover.

There will always be forces at work to fill the needs of the consumer, in this case, the consumer of information.

New media, in the common parlance, refuses to adhere to the labels carefully crafted by three generations of “old media,” in a failed attempt to wall off their own information fiefdom.

We Talk. We Write. We Blog. We Video. We Create.

The bitterness and high level of snark in your article stems not from a high standard of journalism, but the recognition that none of the structures, rules, or hierarchy that dominated your world matter anymore. We get it … countless industries have woken up to their own irrelevance in the last few years. It can’t be pretty.

The transition has not been without friction. Your media obsesses over double sourcing. We wonder why your media “no-sourced” everything from the rise of Al Qaeda, to the 6-year failure of the media to properly analyze the implementation of Obamacare

We “hide” behind acronyms and pseudonyms, exhibiting “keyboard courage”, says Old Media. We don’t hide; we just eschew the cult of personality that has generated the John DePetros, as well as the Talking Head Anchors who describe themselves as journalists, when in fact they have risen to the level of high parody. For us, it’s the story that matters. The Brave New World of Media self polices … if you produce crap, you disappear.

And while you obsess over the comings and goings of a few personalities, you miss entirely the broad mosaic that is Rhode Island media. As the Providence Journal

fades gently into that good night, both you and I are given the opportunity to contribute in its replacement, GoLocalProv. The Valley Breeze Newspapers have assumed the mantle of political and civic coverage at the municipal level, proving that the printed word is still an economically viable delivery method.

But there is much, much more

The dawn to dusk programming of Adam Palazio and his merry band at 990WBOB.com covers everything from politics to rock & roll.

Then there’s the stunning videography of Robert Malin and Abel Collins, interviewing national guests, like Noam Chomsky, among others.

Or take Jeff Scott’s laser-like focus on the Federal Reserve, which has drawn Facebook Followers from around the globe. Better known is RIFuture.org, where progressives blog and record on state and national issues.

And of course, there is The Coalition. We host a one hour-long form interview, Sunday evenings, live on good ol’ AM radio, as well as internet stream. The largest source of growth in our audience actually comes from iTunes podcasts.

Our show has featured uninterrupted hours with everyone from Green Party legend Gregg Gerritt, to General Treasurer Frank Caprio. Rhode Islander’s like Ray Rickman and Dawson Hogdson have been able to develop their ideas and platforms uninterrupted by self-absorbed hosts, free of the need to speak in talking points.

So take solace, Mr. Gobeil, in the fact that the “Circle of Life” occurs everywhere, even in broadcast media. Others will come after us, evolving; refining the product, with one constant… the individuals need to be heard will not be diminished, or ignored.

Pat Ford, also known as "PO Taxpayer," is a Libertarian radio personality with The Coalition; found on AM radio, online, and podcast.